Hairbrush and styling composition dispenser

ABSTRACT

A hairbrush and styling preparation reservoir, the reservoir being removable or permanently fixed to a handle portion of the brush with a dispensing end of the reservoir projecting into the bristle portion of the hairbrush.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hairbrush in combination with a dispenser for providing a styling composition within the bristles of the hairbrush as it is being used.

One method of styling hair is to apply a styling composition, e.g. a gel or a mousse, to the hair prior to combing, brushing the hair. Application by hand of the styling preparations, of necessity, requires that the groomer or the person using the preparation wipe or wash their hands after the application is made.

One solution to the problem of applying the styling preparation to the hair simultaneously with the brush has been the use of a brush containing a hollow handle which is adapted to contain the styling composition which then can be introduced to the brush through passages in the brush extending from the hollow handle to the bristle portion of the brush. These types of devices are exemplified by the following prior art D318,180; D324,777; D341,718; D447,635; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,289,153; 4,893,957; 4,938,621; 5,443,321; 5,746,531; 5,927,290; 5,975,089; 6,022,163; 6,047,703; 6,065,891; 6,071,029; 6,325,070; 6,390,101; 6,662,811 and 6,675,812.

As shown in the prior art most efforts have been concentrated on utilizing a combination dispenser and brush device. However, such devices are extremely expensive to manufacture and must be refilled with the styling composition, clearly a disadvantage. Therefore, there is a need for a more readily usable brush/dispenser device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a hair brush in combination with a removable dispenser. The dispenser can be any of the those that are sold over the counter so that the user need not have to refill the dispenser but can just buy a new one and affix it to the handle of the hairbrush. While the dispenser can be removably fixed to the handle of the hairbrush it can also be semi permanently mounted by a releasable adhesive or permanently mounted by a permanent adhesive.

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is a device for styling hair comprising in combination: a hairbrush having a handle end and a bristle end, the handle end and the bristle end lying substantially in the same plane; and a removable squeezable reservoir positioned on the handle portion of the hairbrush and adapted to hold a hair styling preparation, the reservoir having a dispensing end adapted to extend into a portion of the bristle end of the hairbrush adjacent the handle end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a view of the apparatus of the present invention taken from the left side of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5B is a view of the apparatus of the present invention taken from the right side of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a exploded plan view of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating placement of the dispensing reservoir.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the device of the present invention illustrating one method of fixing the reservoir to the brush portion of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 device 10 according to the present invention includes a brush portion 12 and a dispensing hair composition reservoir 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5B the dispensing reservoir 14 which includes a closed reservoir portion 16 and a dispensing end 18 is placed on a handle portion 20 of brush 12. The reservoir portion 14 has a dispensing end 22 which project inwardly of the bristles 54 of the brush portion 12. The reservoir end 22 can be in the shape of a tapered conical nozzle 26 as is well known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A the reservoir portion 14 can be fixed to the handle portion 20 of brush 12 by means of either permanent or semi-permanent adhesive 28, which may be disposed in a ridge like section 30 of handle 20. The reservoir can, as shown in FIG. 4, project rearwardly on the handle and be coextensive with the handle or not as determined by the length and overall shape of the reservoir 14.

Referring to FIG. 6 the reservoir portion 14 can be made to be removable from the brush 12 for either replacement by a full reservoir or refilling of the reservoir, which will be dictated by the user.

Referring to FIG. 7 the reservoir 14 can be removably connected to the brush 12 by a strap like device 32. Strap like device 32 can be a “Velcro” type fastener or any other type of clamping device that would be readily apparent to a worker skilled in the art.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5B the reservoir 14 is positioned so that a user can dispense the styling fluid from the reservoir 14 into the area of the bristles 24 of the brush 12. If the reservoir 14 is rigid and the dispensing fluid is readily flowable the user need only tilt the brush to cause the fluid to exit the reservoir and flow into the bristle area of the brush. In this case the dispensing end or cap 26 of reservoir 14 would be made to be closed so that when the brush portion is in use no further liquid would exit the reservoir 14.

Alternatively, reservoir 14 can be made in the form of a squeeze bottle to dispense the styling material from the reservoir 14 by a mere squeeze of the bottle.

Any of the well known gels or mousse preparations would be usable with a device of the present invention.

The brush portion of the present invention can contain various bristle arrangements, e.g., a widely spaced bristle arrangement being shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration. It is also conceivable that the bristles can terminate in other than cylindrical ends having thereon spheres or other shapes to aid in styling of the hair.

Having thus described the invention what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A device for styling hair comprising in combination: a hairbrush having a handle end and a bristle end, said handle end and said bristle end lying substantially in the same plane; and a removable reservoir positioned on said handle portion of said hairbrush and adapted to hold a hair styling preparation, said reservoir having a dispensing end adapted to extend into a portion of said bristle end of said hairbrush adjacent said handle end.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir is bonded to said handle.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir is removably fixed to said handle.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a dispensing end with a general conical shaped bottom dispensing tips.
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir contains a hair styling gel.
 6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said hairbrush contains elongated spaced apart bristles.
 7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said bristles are fabricated from a polymeric material.
 8. A device according to claim 6 wherein said bristles project from said brush end of said hairbrush and terminate in generally spherical projecting ends. 